I saddled my horse and I galloped away, 'Til I came to an ale house in town, I called for some ale at the end of the day, And here by the fire sat down. I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, I called for some ale at the end of the day, But a penny was all that I had. I saw there two gentlemen playing at dice, They took me for a soldier bold, With my swagger and rapier and countenance nice, Thought my pockets were lined with gold. And I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, With my swagger and rapier and countenance nice, A penny was all that I had. "Oh soldier, dear sir," they said "do you play?" "What stakes do you lay down?" One said a guinea we're meaning to play, I said "let's lay down five pound". I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, One said a guinea we're meaning to play, But a penny was all that I had. I took up the dice and I threw them the main, The night was free from curse, The heavens I thanked for I managed to gain, For I threw down a moneyless purse. And I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, The heavens I thanked for I managed to gain, A penny was all that I had. Was ever a mortal as quarter as glad, Courage galore in my spine, With the littlest money that first I had, I pray you to pour out the wine. And I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, With the littlest money that first I had, A penny was all that I had. And I had in my pocket a penny, And a penny was all that I had, With the littlest money that first I had, A penny was all that I had.